Overview

Allegheny College

Located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Allegheny College has been the premiere college in the country for students with "Unusual Combinations" of interests and talents for nearly 200 years. As one of Loren Pope's 40 Colleges That Change Lives, students at Allegheny are encouraged to explore all of their curricular and co-curricular interests and to look at academic disciplines from multiple perspectives, an experience that leads to extraordinary outcomes.

Over and over again, Allegheny College hears from leaders in business, government, medicine, and education that the future belongs to innovators, inventors, and "big picture" thinkers -- those who think both analytically and creatively. It is this preparation for the global marketplace -- and for life -- that ranks Allegheny above the rest and attracts national attention.

One of the Nation's Most Academically Rigorous Colleges

That's right. "Newsweek" and "The Daily Beast" have named Allegheny as one of the Top 25 most academically rigorous colleges in the nation.

In the National Survey of Student Engagement, responses by college freshmen placed Allegheny within the top 10% in the US for both a supportive campus environment and level of academic challenge.

"Throughout my trials and my accomplishments, my professors have been behind me every step of the way. I have laughed, cried, and celebrated during their office hours and no matter the situation I have always left feeling uplifted and supported. Allegheny has become my home, cliché as it is, the people here have become my family." --Emily Doherty '13

At Allegheny College, unusual combinations are so important that they are built right into the curriculum: Allegheny is one of the few liberal arts colleges nationally that requires students to choose a minor as well as a major. Some Allegheny students pursue majors and minors that complement each other in predictable ways -- an international studies major with a minor in French, for example -- but there are also many students whose majors and minors represent very different aspects of themselves: an environmental studies major with a minor in creative writing, a chemistry major with a minor in history.

In addition to more than 60 academic programs and tracks, Allegheny's students may also take advantage of Accelerated Master and Doctorate, Teacher Certification, and Engineering cooperative programs with other top institutions.

The Senior Project

Under the guidance of a faculty adviser in his or her major field, each student completes the comprehensive Senior Project, also know as "The Comp," a significant piece of original scholarly work with a creative, analytical or experimental focus. The project mirrors a master's thesis, demonstrating the student's ability to complete a major assignment, to work independently, to analyze and synthesize information, and to write and speak persuasively. Allegheny has required a senior capstone experience since the college's first commencement ceremony in 1821.

"I was encouraged by my advisers to do a research project dealing primarily with my interest in sports. I learned a great deal from the comprehensive project and I sent my project to potential baseball employers and graduate schools as I tried to make the next steps towards my goal of working in baseball. When I was eventually accepted at one of the premier sports management graduate programs in the country, my 'comp' was one of the primary reasons they offered me admission." --Adam Cromie '05, Director, Baseball Operations, Washington Nationals

Unusual Combinations. Extraordinary Outcomes.

Experiential learning opportunities, a dynamic and diverse community of scholars, and a vibrant campus environment all set the stage for an amazing college experience. "US News & World Report" recently recognized Allegheny College as the top "Up-and-Comer" for "innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus, or facilities." Allegheny is also featured in "The Fiske Guide to Colleges, "Harvard Schmarvard," and "The Princeton Review's" list of 311 Green Colleges.

Allegheny ranks in the top 5% of schools for graduates who go on to earn PhD's and in the top 4% in the sciences. Because of the reputation behind an Allegheny degree, alumni are accepted to top graduate schools at rates twice the national average. And, despite the challenging job market, more than 90% of graduates who seek employment after graduation are hired within 8 months.

"Though I had been active with volunteering, a variety of clubs, sports, and musical organizations in high school I was a less than motivated scholar who routinely forgot to turn in assignments and was more interested in reading than cramming for trigonometry tests. Fortunately, the staff at Allegheny recognized my potential for combining unique skills, abilities, and interests and granted me admission. Four years later, I graduated summa cum laude, going on to earn a full scholarship to the University of Michigan's MFA program. Presently, I am pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree at Kent State University in Language and Literature."

--Allie Brooks '07

Become a Gator

Allegheny's distinctive experience is within reach. "Kiplinger's" recognizes Allegheny as one of the top Best Values in the country, a measure of both quality and affordability. In fact, merit scholarships are awarded upon acceptance to the college and awards range up to $80,000 over the course of 4 years!

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